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Body Armor Buyer’s Guide for Law Enforcement (2022)



Whether you’re in law enforcement or just want to know more about the close-up technical aspects of choosing and wearing body armor, you’ll find your answers below.To get more news about body armor, you can visit bulletproofboxs.com official website.

BALLISTIC VEST PARTNERSHIP (BVP)
In 2022, it’s a near certainty your tribal, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency is participating in the federal Ballistic Vest Partnership program, or ‘BVP’. If so, your agency will mandate a few things about what kind of body armor you’re allowed to purchase and wear on duty.
BVP mandates NIJ level IIA, II, or IIIA certification for all body armor purchases using these grant dollars. You’ll need to purchase a product listed by the NIJ as a compliant body armor solution found here. RMA’s Protego, Contego, and Virtus vests are all eligible for BVP funded purchases.

BVP also mandates that body armor is worn on duty at virtually all times outside your station, known at your agency as, “Mandatory Wear Policy.”
UNIFORM POLICY
Your department’s uniform policy also determines what armor you’re allowed to wear on duty. Some agencies will not allow rifle-rated armor to be worn during ordinary patrol operations, but it usually is determined by what kinds of armor are compatible with your uniform policy.

For example, you might wear a Blauer Armorskin or Elbeco BodyShield shirt-style outer carrier sleeve with your vest. Since this style carrier is (usually) nothing more than a fabric cover for appearance, it is not load-bearing capable and will not hold any other armor unless otherwise labeled.

Thus, you are limited to what armor your inner (concealable) carrier will hold. In many concealed carriers, you are restricted to a 5 x 8 inch or 7 x 9 inch trauma plate of some kind. With RMA’s Contego ballistic vest package, you can fit all the way up to a 10 x 12 inch plate with front opening access for rapid deployment of special threat, rifle-rated, or other armor solution in addition to your concealed vest.
HOW TO PROPERLY FIT AND WEAR BODY ARMOR
How your body armor fits you is important. If you are wearing misfit armor, you could be exposing yourself to unnecessary risk and discomfort. A properly fitting vest will be surprisingly comfortable to wear all day long.
LENGTH
The length of your armor will determine its compatibility with your other equipment. The top edge of your ballistic vest should begin at your sternum—a notch between your clavicle bones in the middle of where your neck meets your chest. It should end where your duty belt begins when you sit down.

Your duty belt and armor should fit together without pushing your vest up into your throat when you sit down. Your torso length will compress by an average of 1-1.5 inches when you sit down, so be sure your vest length leaves about this much space between its bottom edge and your duty belt when you stand up.

Some people choose vests that fit a bit shorter than normal due to ergonomics. The human body bends efficiently at the waist right around the belly button. While this style of cut isn’t necessarily recommended, it can be done to compliment this type of body movement if desired.

CHEST WIDTH
Chest width is critical for life and death engagements. Finding the right balance between vital organ coverage and ergonomic performance can impact cardiovascular performance, muscle fatigue, and how well you stay in the fight.

Since nearly all males compress their pectoral width between their biceps to about 12 inches when their hands are clasped in front of them, your vest should be fitted to accommodate this distance. With too little coverage, you’re sacrificing protection in an area with arteries, potentially resulting in catastrophic blood loss. Your size may vary from precisely 12 inches.